Insiders tip Apple leading HP when iPads included

Apple is on track to topple HP as the most popular portable computer maker when iPads are factored in, new tips from the industry hinted Thursday night. Apple is now estimated to be shipping 15 million MacBooks of all kinds in 2012 and, combined with raised external estimates of 60 million iPads the same year, would amount to 25 to 30 percent of the estimated portable market. HP is expected to ship no more than 50 million notebooks in 2011 but, because it can't count on rapid PC growth or on the TouchPad, isn't considered likely by Digitimes' sources to topple Apple when their combined mobile platforms are involved.

Comparisons of the sort have been made before but have usually been based on existing share, not forward-looking estimates. Predictions such as these are likely to change significantly in coming months but can serve as rough ballparks. For 2011, Apple may be on track with up to 14 million iPads in the summer if supply chain estimates are accurate.

The iPad has most often had the biggest impact in the notebook category. Microsoft has seen netbook revenue plunge 40 percent earlier in 2011, and Acer has had to shrink its notebook shipments and ultimately reorganize itself to get away from its dependencies on netbooks and low-end notebooks.

HP for its part has fended off Acer and Dell for the top place in PCs as a whole. More recently, though, its lead has been chipped away by rivals. Its most recent quarter was defined by a steep drop in home PC revenue and won't necessarily improve in the near term.

By Electronista Staff

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computers, industry, Microsoft, Dell, HP, Acer, Apple, iPad